Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the definition of priority with regards to homelessness applications in England.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
England has a strong homelessness safety net in legislation, as set out in the Housing Act 1996. The circumstances by which an applicant will be deemed to be in priority need are outlined in the statutory Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities (2006). Chapter Ten of the Code of Guidance outlines the following categories of applicant who have a priority need for accommodation under the homelessness legislation:
i) a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;
ii) a person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside;
iii) a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;
iv) a person aged 16 or 17 who is not a ‘relevant child’ or a child in need to whom a local authority owes a duty under section 20 of the Children Act 1989;
v) a person under 21 who was (but is no longer) looked after, accommodated or fostered between the ages of 16 and 18;
vi) a person aged 21 or more who is vulnerable as a result of having been looked after, accommodated or fostered;
vii) a person who is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty’s regular naval, military or air forces;
viii) a person who is vulnerable as a result of:
a) having served a custodial sentence,
(b) having been committed for contempt of court or any other kindred offence, or
(c) having been remanded in custody;
ix) a person who is vulnerable as a result of ceasing to occupy accommodation because of violence from another person or threats of violence from another person which are likely to be carried out;
x) a person who is vulnerable for any other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside; and
xi) a person who is homeless, or threatened with homelessness, as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the circumstances in which an individual can be assessed as having a housing priority need in a local authority in England.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
England has a strong homelessness safety net in legislation, as set out in the Housing Act 1996. The circumstances by which an applicant will be deemed to be in priority need are outlined in the statutory Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities (2006). Chapter Ten of the Code of Guidance outlines the following categories of applicant who have a priority need for accommodation under the homelessness legislation:
i) a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;
ii) a person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside;
iii) a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;
iv) a person aged 16 or 17 who is not a ‘relevant child’ or a child in need to whom a local authority owes a duty under section 20 of the Children Act 1989;
v) a person under 21 who was (but is no longer) looked after, accommodated or fostered between the ages of 16 and 18;
vi) a person aged 21 or more who is vulnerable as a result of having been looked after, accommodated or fostered;
vii) a person who is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty’s regular naval, military or air forces;
viii) a person who is vulnerable as a result of:
a) having served a custodial sentence,
(b) having been committed for contempt of court or any other kindred offence, or
(c) having been remanded in custody;
ix) a person who is vulnerable as a result of ceasing to occupy accommodation because of violence from another person or threats of violence from another person which are likely to be carried out;
x) a person who is vulnerable for any other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside; and
xi) a person who is homeless, or threatened with homelessness, as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what data they collect, and with what frequency, regarding homelessness applications.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
English local authorities submit data on homelessness applications to the Department on a quarterly basis on the P1E form. A copy of the form (attached) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homelessness-data-notes-and-definitions
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what data is collected, and with what frequency, by local authorities in England regarding homelessness applications.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
English local authorities submit data on homelessness applications to the Department on a quarterly basis on the P1E form. A copy of the form (attached) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homelessness-data-notes-and-definitions
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have undertaken any analysis to determine why there has been an increase in the number of homeless people; and, if so, what assessment they have made of the impact of the Homeless Prevention Fund provided to local authorities and increased funding of programmes for the homeless.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
This Government has always been clear that we are committed to supporting the most vulnerable people in our society. One person without a home is one too many. That is why we have protected the homelessness prevention funding local authorities receive, totalling £315 million by 2019-20. This builds on our commitment to increase central government funding for homelessness programmes to £139 million over the next four years.
We are working with homelessness organisations to consider other options, including legislation, to ensure those at risk of homelessness get earlier and more effective support. Through a series of roundtables we have already started conversations to help shape and inform our future approach to tackling homelessness and deciding our investment priorities.
During the last Parliament the Homelessness Prevention Grant and our investment in homelessness programmes helped prevent 935,800 households from becoming homeless.
We will continue to use the information provided to us by local authorities to assess the causes of homelessness and the extent of homelessness prevention and relief activity, in order to help shape future policy and investment.